With a general election in Canada being held on April 28. Justin Leroux is the Libertarian Party candidate for the riding of Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt. We spoke with Justin about his decision to stand.
“I refuse to stand by while families suffer and the promise of our nation crumbles. For me, running is not just a choice—it’s a civic duty”
Can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us what made you decide to run?
My name is Justin Leroux. I was born in Sudbury and raised in North Bay from the age of seven. I completed high school there and studied World Religions and Philosophy at university, initially preparing to become either a priest or a pathologist.
During high school, I completed a priestly assessment at the request of our Bishop. Although I passed, he encouraged me to gain more life experience and truly learn what I wanted to understand. That led me to study the essence of what it means to be human—through both spiritual and secular perspectives. Toward the end of my first year at university, I felt called to serve in the funeral profession, so I moved to Toronto to study at Humber College and began working at one of the city’s historic funeral homes, serving families of all cultures and beliefs.
I’ve since worked across Ontario, including as an assistant manager in Midland and later managing three funeral homes near New Liskeard. My time in funeral service was always centred on advocacy—supporting grieving families through hospitals, with municipalities, and sometimes even in discussions with medical professionals.
Following a back injury, I transitioned into IT services. Today, I run my own consulting business, helping funeral homes modernise and adapt to an ever-changing world. But throughout my life—whether in the funeral profession or IT—I’ve always noticed inefficiency, injustice, and above all else… waste. The sheer amount of it in our government is staggering. Our country throws money at problems it often creates, while families here at home go hungry, neglected.
I realised that so many of the issues we face are the result of artificial dependencies created by government overreach. I’ve lived by libertarian principles long before I even knew there was a name for them. I’m running because I cannot watch Canada continue down this road. I refuse to stand by while families suffer and the promise of our nation crumbles. For me, running is not just a choice—it’s a civic duty. When good people stay silent, the status quo persists. I want to be part of the solution.
“the cost of living has skyrocketed. In just a few years, prices have risen so dramatically that to call it “inflation” feels like a disservice to the lived reality of our people”
You’re the candidate for Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt. What are the main concerns in the area?
This riding covers a vast geographic area and many diverse communities—farming villages, mining towns, and places that once thrived on forestry but are still reeling from the closure of their mills.
Despite the diversity, the concerns I hear across the riding are remarkably consistent.
Affordability is top of mind. Whether it’s groceries, petrol, baby formula, or heating fuel, the cost of living has skyrocketed. In just a few years, prices have risen so dramatically that to call it “inflation” feels like a disservice to the lived reality of our people. Residents are working harder than ever but falling further behind.
Housing is another major issue—both in availability and cost. In smaller communities, housing stock is limited, and in larger centres, it’s simply unaffordable. Young families are priced out of homeownership, and even renting can feel like a monthly gamble. Government intervention has made things worse, not better—artificially driving demand while restricting supply through red tape and regulation.
Mining and natural resources are the backbone of our region’s economy, yet federal policy often works against us. Punitive tariffs and excessive regulation discourage local investment, restrict our competitiveness, and allow foreign interests to benefit from resources we should be refining and utilising here in Northern Ontario. We need to stop handicapping our own industries in the name of political optics.
Lastly, there’s a deep frustration with bureaucracy and disconnection. Many residents feel abandoned by Ottawa—governed by decision-makers who have never set foot in our communities. It’s time for a local voice that understands not just our challenges, but our potential.
What do you see as the major issues more widely in Canada, and if elected, what do you hope to champion?
Across Canada, we’re facing a crisis of identity. We’ve lost sight of individual responsibility and community-based solutions in favour of sprawling bureaucracy and centralised control. We’ve traded freedom for promises of security—and now find ourselves with neither.
“If elected, I will champion policies that decentralise power, cut waste, and restore individual freedom and accountability“
Healthcare is failing—not because of a lack of money, but because of how it’s managed. The system rewards waiting and inefficiency. Housing is unaffordable—not because of capitalism, but because of regulation, land mismanagement, and inflationary monetary policy. And most tragically, our children are inheriting debt and restrictions instead of opportunity.
If elected, I will champion policies that decentralise power, cut waste, and restore individual freedom and accountability. That includes:
- Ending corporate welfare and foreign aid while our own people struggle
- Repealing unnecessary regulations that make housing and small business unaffordable
- Defending medical freedom and bodily autonomy
- Introducing real monetary responsibility—balanced budgets and sound fiscal planning that will lead to eliminating the income tax
- Empowering communities, not Ottawa, to solve local issues
- Fighting for our First Nation Communities – They deserve to be free from an Ottawa that is oppressive and prevents their autonomy and freedoms in Canada. Some communities are still being stone-walled for valid land claims from the 1990s. That is unacceptable.
“I welcome all feedback, even from those who may not agree with everything I stand for. That’s the beauty of liberty”
How can people find out more or get involved in the campaign?
You can visit nickelbeltlibertarians.ca to learn more about my campaign, platform updates, and upcoming events.
If you’d like to volunteer, share your concerns, or simply have a conversation, there are contact forms available on the site—and I welcome all feedback, even from those who may not agree with everything I stand for. That’s the beauty of liberty.
At the moment, I am few signatures short for my nomination in our riding, I have a way for people to send their signature or collect signatures from others at – Nomination – Nickel Belt Libertarians.
Together, we can restore freedom, responsibility, and dignity in our communities.
